HILLINGDON Council has approved a review of re-offending patterns in the borough, after a report stated more than half of those serving short-term sentences will commit crime again.

The report, presented to the external services scrutiny committee at its July meeting last week, also noted that re-convicting an offender could cost the taxpayer up to £65,000.

The document states that this borough has been meeting targets for reducing re-offending, out-performing neighbouring boroughs by anything up to 10 per cent.

A working group is being set up to review the council's performance in this area, and the council said it anticipates starting work by September but will not have a public meeting.

Priority areas include maintaining crime reduction, reducing re-offending rates, increasing the number of offenders brought to justice and addressing domestic violence concerns, including the operation of a specialist domestic violence court.

Ensuring employment among ex-offenders was also flagged as a key area for reducing re-offending. National statistics show the probability of further offences is reduced by 33-50 per cent when ex-offenders are in work.

The report noted the success of the Blue Sky Project, run by Hillingdon Council in partnership with Groundwork Thames Valley and the Probation Service, and which finds employment for prolific and 'priority' offenders for six months when they complete their sentence.

According to council figures, only 15 per cent of former Blue Sky employees have re-offended - a quarter of the national average.

Speaking after the report was adopted, committee chairman, Councillor Michael White, said he recognised that re-offending rates were of concern to residents and that, while the council might not change its entire approach: "We hope tweak and improve things to help our partner services."